Box-covering machine.



J. ALGER.

BOX COVERING MACHINE.

APPLIQATION FILED JUNE 12, 1908,

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J. ALGER.

BOX COVERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1908.

Patented June 4, 1912.

6 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WASHING c.

J. ALGER. 1 Box COVERING MAGHINE, APPLICATION PI LED JUNE 12, 1908.

. 1,028,421, Patented June 4,1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 120.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. ALGER. BOX COVERING MACHINE. APPLICATION rn nn mm: 12, 190B.

Patented June 4, 1912.

6 8HEETSSHBET 5;

J. ALGER.

BOX COVERING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1903.

1,028;421 Patented Jun 4, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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JOSEPH ALGER, 0F BROGKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO HIMSELF AND ONE-HALF TO ARTHUR ALGER, 0F BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOX-COVERING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ALGER, a cltizen of the United States, residing at Brockton, county of Plymouth, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Covering Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for covering boxes and particularly to that class of machines which apply the covering to the box in the form of a blank which is folded about the box and attached thereto. There are two principal styles of boxes which'are papered in this way, the one a plain box with the usual rectangular or squared corners and sides, and the other a box having about its top or bottom edges, or about both, an extension or flange. The papering of these two types of boxes in a single machine presents a difficult problem as the differences in form and the action in handling of the coverings requires a great scope of adaptability in the mechanisms of the device.

' In my former Patent No. 820,166 I disclosed a machine of this general nature and while this machine is operative, it is sub ject to various limitations which it is the object of the present invention to overcome as well as to provide new features and elements and other general improvements.

In my present invention I have provided a new means for forming the turn in the cover at the ends of the box, an improved system of tucking in and turning the paper at the edges, an improved driving system, centering, locating mechanisms, and more complete arrangements for adjustment and interchange with various other constructions and arrangements of parts which are embodied in the machine to be more fully hereinafter described as illustrative of my invention.

Throughout the specification and drawings, in which this embodiment is set forth; like reference numerals indicate correspond ing parts, and in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the machine, Fi 2, a side view from the right of Fig. 1, Fig. 3, a plan view of the machine with the superstructure removed, Fig. 4, a detail plan in partial section of centering device and internal brush arrangement, Fig. 5, detail view of end turner and operating mech- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 12, 1908.

Patented June 4, 1912. Serial No. 438,146.

anism, in upward position. Fig. 6, a front sectional detail of the folder and internal pasting mechanisms, Fig. 7, a detail of the folders applied to an extension edge box, Fig. shown in Fig. 7 with a side folder swung up, and Figs. 9, 10, 11, details of brush structure.

1 is a bed supported uponlegs 2.

3 are uprights on the bed supporting a frame @1- on which there is mounted for vertical reciprocation a tubular slide 5, in which is a placer rod 6 slidable, but held from turning therein by a key 8 which is pinned to the rod 6 and works in a slot- 9 in the slide 5.

6 is an adjustable stop on the rod 6 which is adapted to engage a stop 15 on a support 16.

5 is a cap on the end of the tubular slide 5 between which cap and the key 8 is contained a spring 10 which allows a continued movement of the slide 5 after the placer 11, carried on the end of the rod 6, reaches the bottom of the box B as it rests on the sup" port 12.

-13 is a head supported on the slide 5 having slots 13 in which are adjustably bolted brush supports 14 carrying brush plates 15. Upon the return of the slide the spring 10 holds the placer down upon the bottom of the box until the brushes are withdrawn, thus assuring their clearance from the box. On the support 12 is a removable block which may be varied as will be hereinafter described for the accommodation of difier ent types of boxes. The support 12 is ad justable on a threaded standard 12 by lock nuts 12 Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, 21 are slideways in which are adj ustably mounted supports 22 which carry the folders 2a and 25 which are hinged thereto, as indicated at 23, 24 being the end folders and 25 being the side folders. As shown, the folders 24 and 25 are oppositely mounted and are operated by rods 26 and 27 respectively set in yokes 28 and 29 which are in turn controlled by suitable connections with cam grooves 28 and 29 in the cams 9 1 and 93. The slide 5 is operated by a lever 31 which is rocked by a link 32 from a bell crank 33 controlled by a connection 34: with cam groove 34 in the cam 91. 40 are supporting slideways adjustably mounted 011 the bed 1 for guid- 8, a plan view of the box support ing the end turner slides 41 on'which are adjustably mounted end turning arms 42. To these arms 42 are adjust-ably attached blades 43 which through the slot 44 and bolt 45 may be set at any relative angle to the arms 42 which are capable of adjustment on the slides 41 through the slots 46 and the bolts 47. The slideways 40 are formed at their lower ends with plates 40 which are slotted at 40 and through these slots are set bolts 49 which are tapped into the bed 1. By loosening the bolts 49 the slides 40 may be laterally adjusted to any posit-ion desired within the limits of the slots 40 The slides 41 at the front and rear of the machine are both operated by the levers 50 pivoted at 51 and rocked by the connections 52 with the cam slots 52 in the cams 91 and 92.

Returning to the construction of the folding device and referring to Figs. 3, 5, and

' 6, the folders 24 and are slotted for the adjustable mounting of folder plates (34 and 65. These plates are grooved at their lateral edges and in these grooves are mounted adjustable blocks 66 between which intersticed turners 67 are stretched to bring the covering paper over the edge of the box or cover. These turners are preferably formgd as spirals and if formed of wire have a yield ing quality due to their springlike nature and may thus accommodate themselves to any irregularities and yield. It is to be noted that these turners enter, in their operative position, the path of the brushes 15 but the brush readily enters the interstices of the laterally exposed spiral and passes through it, carrying with it the paper which the turner has broughtover the edge of the box and pressing it against the inside of the box wall to which it attaches itself by the glue coating which has been applied. Through the vertical adjustability of the blocks ('36 the turner 67 may be raised or lowered to pass over the edge of boxes or covers of varied depths.

In the operation of a machine on plain boxes or on those formed with what is known as the package end, it is of great importance that the fold in the paper at the end of the box be started at just the right angle. lVhat this angle is depends on the height of the box and the nature of the paper. Some papers fold readily but are liable to tear if the angle of the folders is not just right, while other papers are stronger, but, the fold does not run so readily and the blades are apt to punch through or tear if the folder does not approach at the proper angle. The adjustment of the slides 40, the blades 43 and the arms 42 relative to the slides 41 to secure the proper angle of approach is a matter of great importance and this is made possible by the intermediate arm which further permits the blade to be set so that its forward end 43 will always travel and be maintained in an approximately vertical position, and so that the oppositely disposed blade ends will almost, but not quite, meet at the central point of the end of the box. In the operation upon extension edge boxes the blade 43 is replaced by a brush 48 which turns in the corner flap of the blank used for this purpose. This blank is shown and described in Letters Patent No. 781,766 the flap being lettered therein as C The operation of the machine is substantially the same in the handling of the two different types of boxes but in the case of the plain box or package end type the box support is formed as a holder 75 (see Figs. 2, 3, and 5,) with sides of stiff material such as sole leather which receive the box with its covering blank applied to its bottom and hold it with the blank all turned up at the sides. It is in this position that the operative places it in the machine. In working upon extension edge boxes the support is formed as a plain block made somewhat thinner than that used on the plain boxes and, consequently, having its upper surface in a plane lower than the bottom edge of the folder plates 64 and 65. This permit-s the adjustment of the folder plates so that they will turn up on the margin of the block and bear down upon the extension of the box resting thereon, as shown in former Patent No. 820,166.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6 it will be noted that I have shown a means 70 for drawing up the paper in advance of the folders. This I have designated as a belt in my former Patent No. 851,052 in which it is lettered L. This belt 70 is attached to the support 12 and extends from the ends, being held outwardly and in advance of the folders by cords 71 which pass through arms 72 and are yieldingly held by springs 7 3. This permits a play of the connections and a maintenance of the tension on the belt 70 so thatit will advance to the box carrying the paper with a yielding but even tension.

With the machine positioned as in Fig. 1 and supposing that the box to be covered is of the plain type or a top desired to be finished in the package end style, the operator takes a box (or top, as the case may be) to which a blank previously gummed and properly located on the bottom (or on the top, in the case of a box top), and thrusts it within the holder 75 which supports the flaps of the blank which are to cover the side, in an upright position. The foot lever is now depressed against the action of the spring 81 and the clutch on the power shaft set to actuate the main shaft of the machine. On this shaft are mounted the cams 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95, of which controls the placer 11 and brush 15 mechanisms, through the connections 31, 32, 33; 91 the end turner slides 41 at the front of the machine through the lever 50; 93 the side folders 25, through yoke 29 and rods 27; 94: the end folders 2 1:, through the yoke 28 and the rods 26; and, 92 the end turners at the rear of the machine through the rear lever 50. These cams are so relatively timed that the parts operate in the following order. As the machine starts from the position shown in Fig. l the slide 5 quickly drops until the placer l1 strikes the bottom of the box B. This placer 11 has a pair of adjustable arms 11 pivoted in the end of the placer rod 6 at 11 These arms 11 normally drop from the horizontal slightly, thus slightly shortening their available total distance between ends. As the placer strikes the bottom of the box (or top) the arms are thereby brought into horizontal position and the ends thereby brought apart touching the ends of the box to move it in one direction or the other endwise to properly center it with reference to the end folders. As soon as this is done the side folders 25 swing up into position. The end turners then advance simultaneously from the front and rear of the machine to bring their properly adjusted blades I3 past the ends of the box to turn in the paper around the end corners folding and creasing it neatly. Just as these blades 43 are withdrawing, the end folders 24; swing up to press their plates 64 against the ends of the box. The belt which travels in advance of these folders catches the folded covering and draws it up against the box end so that as the plate 64 finally bears against the box the covering is all laid in place. As soon as the blades 43 are withdrawn the end folders 2a swing up into position closing in the box on the sides and completing the inclosure of it. In this position the turners 64 project over the edges of the box and press the edges of the blank inward in a horizontal position. The slide now continues its movement downward slightly compressing the spring 10 until the brushes 15 have passed through the interstices of the turner and pressed the edge of the covering paper against the inside of the box walls. The slide 5 then lifts carrying the brushes out of the box and removing the placer and the side folders are dropped back to release the box and leave it free for removal. In operating upon an extension edge box the movements of the parts are the same but, as explained above, the machine is in this case fitted with a diiferent support for the box and blank. This support comprises a block 100 of the size of the box bottom and extension. The side edges of this block are provided with centering fingers 101 pivoted at 102 and normally held with the centering point 103 above the plane of the block 100 by a spring 104. The points 103 therefore assure the proper location of the box laterally, while the placer 11 locates it longitudinally. The bottom edge of the side folder strikes on the projecting point 103 of the finger 101 but the finger swings down and yields so that the plates 65 are allowed to assume their proper position against the side of the box. In the operation upon extension edge boxes the end turner blade 43 is replaced by a brush IS which is adjustably mounted on the adjustable connection 42. This brush in addition to making the turn about the corner of the box, presses and pastes the gunnned blank of the extension covering against the end of the box. (See Fig. 9).

I claim:

1. In a box covering machine means for supporting a box and covering blank, an inclined slideway in line with the end of the box support, a slide movable in said slideway to approach said support, an arm adjustably supported on said slide and means adjustably supported on said arm to fold a blank about the end of a box.

2. In a box covering machine means for supporting a box and covering blank, an inclined slideway in line with the end of the box support, a slide movable in said slideway to approach said support, and means adjustably supported on said slide to fold the blank about the end of the box.

3. In a box covering machine removable means for supporting boxes and covering blanks, a laterally adjustable slideway in line with the ends of the box support, a slide movable in said slideway to approach said support, and means on said slide to fold a blank about the ends of a box.

4. In a box covering machine a support for a box and covering blank, a vertically descending placer for locating said box on said support, said placer comprising a pair of adjustable arms normally depending from a right line but movable into alinement upon reaching the bottom of the box.

5. In a box covering machine a support for a box and covering blank, a vertically descending slide, lateral box contacting means on said slide, and means for laterally adjusting said box on said support, said lateral box adjusting means being yieldingly carried in normal advance of said box contasting means.

6. In a box covering machine, a support for a box and covering blank, a vertically descending slide, lateral box contacting means on said slide, normally advanced means for the lateral adjustment of said box over the edge of the box, a presser to bring said covering material against the interior of said box, said turner and presser being relatively movable and having openings to permit the passage of one through the other and means for relatively moving said support and presser.

8. In a machine for covering paper boxes a support for a box and covering material, a vertically opened turner for bringing the covering material over the edge of the box, vertically separable means for bringing said covering material against the interior of said box, said two means last named being relatively movable and means for relatively moving said support and presser.

9. In a machine for covering paper boxes means for supporting a box and covering material, a folder mounted to move relative to said support, a turner on the face of said folder for bringing the covering material over the edge of the box, a presser to bring said covering material against the interior of said box said turner and said presser being relatively movable and having openings to permit the passage of one through the other said support and presser being relatively movable.

10. In a machine for covering paper boxes means for supporting a box and covering material, a. folder mounted to move relative to said support, a turner adj ustably mounted on the face of said folder for bringing the covering material over the edge of the box, a presser to bring said covering material against the interior of said box, said turner and presser being relatively movable and having openings to permit the passage of one through the other and said support and presser being also relatively movable.

11. In a machine for covering paper boxes a support for a box and covering, a brush for pasting the covering Within the box, means for folding the covering about the box, an intersticed turner on said means for holding the covering over the edge of the box, said brush and turner being relatively movable, and means for relatively moving said brush and support.

12. In a machine for covering paper boxes a support for a box and covering, a brush for pasting the covering Within the box, means for folding the covering about the box, an intersticed turner adjustably mounted 011 means for holding the covering over the edge of the box, said brush and turner being relatively movable, and means for rel atively moving said brush and support.

13. In a machine for covering paper boxes a support for a box and covering, a brush for pasting the covering Within the box, a folder mounted to be moved relative to said support, an intersticed turner on said folder for holding the covering over the edge of the box, said brush and turner being relatively movable, and means for moving said brush through said turner to bring the coverings against the inside of the box.

14. In a machine for covering paper boxes a support for a box and covering, a brush for pasting the covering Within the box, a folder mounted to be moved relative to said support, an intersticed turner adjustably mounted on said folder for holding the covering over the edge of a box and means for moving said brush through said turner to bring the coverings against the inside of the box.

15. In a machine for covering paper boxes means for supporting a box and covering material, a turner having openings therein for bringing the covering material over the edge of the box and means adapted to pass through said openings in said turner to bring said covering material against the interior of said box.

16. In a machine for covering paper boxes means for supporting a box and covering material, a vertically adjustable turner for bringing the covering material over the edge of a box and a presser to bring said covering material against the interior of said box, said turner and presser having openings to permit the passage of one through the other.

17. In a machine for covering paper boxes means for supporting a box and covering material, a turner movable relative to said support to bring the covering material over the edge of the box and a presser to bring said covering material against the interior of said box, said turner and presser having openings to permit the passage of one through the other.

18. In a machine for covering paper boxes a brush for pasting the covering Within the box and an intersticed turner for holding the covering over the edge of the box, said brush and turner being relatively movable.

19. In a machine for covering paper boxes a brush for pasting the covering Within the box and an intersticed turner for bringing the covering over the edge of the box in advance of said brush, said brush and turner being relatively movable.

20. In a machine for covering paper boxes a support for the box and covering material, a brush for pasting the covering Within the box and an intersticed turner for holding the covering over the edge of the box, said brush and turner being relatively movable, and means for relatively moving said support and brush.

21. In a machine for covering paper boxes means for supporting a box and covering material, a turner having openings therein adapted to have lateral movement to bring the covering material over the edge of the box and vertically active a presser adapted to pass through said turner to bring said covering material against the interior of said box said turner and presser being relatively movable and having openings to permit the passage of one through the other.

22. In a machine for covering paper boxes a support for a box and covering paper, means for folding covering paper about the box supported for movement relative thereto, flexible means for drawing up the paper in advance of the folding means, attached at one end to said support and having its opposite end yieldingly held and having a sliding engagement with said folder intermediate of its ends.

23. In a machine for covering paper boxes a support for a box and covering paper, means for folding covering paper about the box mounted to be swung relative thereto, flexible means for drawing up the paper in advance of the covering means attached at one end to said support and having its opposite end yieldingly held and means on said folder for sliding engagement with said flexible means intermediate of its ends.

24. In a machine for covering paper boxes a support for a box and covering paper, folders mounted to swing relatively to said support, flexible means for drawing up the paper in advance of said folders, said flexible means being attached at one end to the support and connected at its opposite end by a cord to the frame and means on said folders for slidably engaging said cord.

25. In a machine for covering paper boxes a support for a box and covering paper, a folder mounted to swing relatively to said support, said folder having an eye therethrough, flexible means for drawing up the paper in advance of said folder, said flexible means being attached at one end to the support and connected at its opposite end by a cord to the frame, said cord passing through said eye.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH ALGER. lVitnesses KonAN C. SMALL, ARTHUR H. ALGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

